In the October 13, 1966 issue of the Jal Record, it was reported that the Lea Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors named Rubert "Bert" Madera as the Outstanding Lea County Conservation Rancher of the year, stating that he was the operator of the Pitchfork Ranch located about twenty miles west of Jal. … Continue reading The Madera Family and the Pitchfork Ranch
ranching
A Cattleman’s Will
When Henry S. Record died, he left most of his estate to the New Mexico Baptist Orphanage in Portales. The bequest was in honor and memory of his late wife, Nettie Harris Record who predeceased him. Mr. Record had been a founder of the orphanage and was actively involved in it as he got older. … Continue reading A Cattleman’s Will
Pearl
The settlement called Pearl was named for Pearl Stark Roberts, wife of Nathan Cornelius Roberts who settled about five miles west of Monument in what was then Eddy County. Pearl Roberts was named postmistress in 1908 and the post office was housed in a room of their small pioneer home on the Roberts Ranch. The … Continue reading Pearl
Samuel Rose Cooper, Early Settler
Samuel R. Cooper was an early resident of Lea County. He was born near Salina, Kansas in 1874. When he was six years old, his family moved to Erring Springs, in the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Territory, now known as Oklahoma. As a young adult around the age of 21, Mr. Cooper left his family and … Continue reading Samuel Rose Cooper, Early Settler
The Causey Brothers
The Causey brothers were formerly buffalo hunters. The big lumbering buffalo were hunted in the southwest to the point where they declined from a peak of over 100 million animals to near extinction in only a few decades during the late 1800s. Likely the best known Causey brother went by George Causey, though his given … Continue reading The Causey Brothers
Addison “Add” Jones, Well Known Black Cowboy
Addison "Add" Jones was born a slave in Texas. Much of what we understand about his early life was told by his wife Rosa when she furnished information for his death certificate after he died. He is thought to have been born in Gonzalez County in 1845. Jones worked for many years for George Washington … Continue reading Addison “Add” Jones, Well Known Black Cowboy
Fern Sawyer
“She died in the saddle, surrounded by friends.” said Peter Holt, as quoted in the October 21, 1993 issue of the Lincoln County News, Carrizozo, New Mexico. Most recently Ms. Sawyer had resided in Nogal, Lincoln County, New Mexico. Fern Sawyer was born at Buchanan, De Baca County, New Mexico, on May 17, 1917 to … Continue reading Fern Sawyer
A. J. Crawford
Abel Justus Crawford was a pioneer to the area, having lived in or near Lea County for almost 70 years when he passed away in 1969. Mr. Crawford was born November 10, 1867 in Mount Giliad, Kentucky. He recalled his first job, that of picking cherries for 15 cents per day. As a youth, he … Continue reading A. J. Crawford
The Lee Family
Richard David “Dick” Lee, Sr. was born November 23, 1877 in Brownwood, Brown County, Texas to Brooks William Lee and Nancy Lenora “Jennie” Millican Lee. He married Sarah Viola Forrester in Scurry County, Texas on January 24, 1900. Dick came to the New Mexico Territory with his parents in 1886 from Texas when he was … Continue reading The Lee Family
Open Range Cowboy Association
"To Preserve the Spirit of the Old West as a Spirit That Should Never Be Forgotten" This interesting Lea County group dates back to 1940. After a few years of meeting informally, it was organized as part of a national group of the same name. Its original charter members included Henry S. Record, Will Gray, … Continue reading Open Range Cowboy Association
Old Lea County, N.M. 